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May 21, 2015
Eyewitness Accounts
May 21, 2015
by BP Prospect Staff
Aaron Judge
![](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/images/headshot_68603.jpg) |
Born: 04/26/1992 (Age: 23) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 7" |
Weight: 275 |
Primary Position: RF |
Secondary Position: LF |
XXL size, but well proportioned throughout; built on a different scale; extremely athletic with well developed musculature; very strong forearms and wrists; broad, muscular shoulders and chest. |
Al Skorupa |
05/11/2015 |
04/29/2015; 05/10/2015 |
Trenton Thunder (AA, Yankees) |
2017 |
Medium |
55 |
55; Above-average right fielder |
No |
Judge projects as an above-average big-league right fielder. Plus power and a high OBP will make him an effective hitter despite a high amount of strikeouts. Prototypical right fielder with above-average glove and plus arm.
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Jhoan Urena
![](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/images/headshot_101015.jpg) |
Born: 09/01/1994 (Age: 20) |
Bats: Switch |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 1" |
Weight: 200 |
Primary Position: 3B |
Secondary Position: |
Strong body, well-developed already, has gone from bad weight to good weight in the last six months; |
Jeff Moore |
05/12/2015 |
4/27/15, 5/4/15, 5/11/15, spring training |
St. Lucie Mets (High-A, Mets) |
2018 |
High |
55 |
45, Second-Division Regular |
No |
Urena is a difficult player to grade at present because he skipped a level to play against advanced competition. He's currently struggling badly against breaking balls, failing to identify them out of the hand. Despite this, however, he's still able to attack fastballs and has already made an in-season adjustment, hitting better pitches than he was earlier in the season and putting together better at-bats. That quick adjustment provides optimism for his future. The plus bat speed gives him the tools to be an above-aveage hitter if he proves that his pitch recognition issues are more about lack of experience than they are neurological. The power is natural and doesn't require him to over-swing.
He'll never be an asset in the field, but he should be able to stay at third base through his prime, where his bat has the potential to be above average. There is still a lot of development remaining in front of Urena, but the tools are evident for a potential impact bat. If the pitch recognition issues remain, he could still offer enough production to warrant playing time and find a regular role, but will need to bat down in the order.
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Cole Tucker
![](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/images/headshot_104934.jpg) |
Born: 07/03/1996 (Age: 18) |
Bats: Switch |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 3" |
Weight: 185 |
Primary Position: SS |
Secondary Position: |
Wiry frame; long legs; extreme projection left; potential for 15-20 lbs gain of muscle. |
Tucker Blair |
05/18/2015 |
4/28/15 - 4/29/15, 5/15/15 - 5/16/15 |
West Virginia Power (Low-A, Pirates) |
2019 |
High |
55 |
45; Second-Division Starter |
No |
Hustles every single play; full sprints on routine grounders to second base; keeps a cool head after an error; very professional approach during both series viewed.
|
Tucker demonstrated his potential throughout both series, displaying adept barrel control and the ability to drive the ball to the gaps. The profile is very raw, with a long development curve, but the tools shined throughout both series. The risk is high as Tucker is still marinating the tools, approach, and body growth, but the overall future potential of Tucker is a player who will be a bat-first shortstop with a chance to play average defense and provide all-around value up the middle.
Round Drafted: first round (24th overall), 2014
Why: Athletic player with potential for above-average hit and power from a premium position.
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Tito Polo
![](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/images/headshot_101145.jpg) |
Born: 08/23/1994 (Age: 20) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 5' 9" |
Weight: 184 |
Primary Position: CF |
Secondary Position: LF |
Small frame; muscular body with quick-twitch athleticism; maxed frame with minimal projection. |
Tucker Blair |
05/18/2015 |
4/28/15 - 4/29/15, 5/15/15 - 5/16/15 |
West Virginia Power (Low-A, Pirates) |
2018 |
High |
50 |
40; 4th OF/Below-Average Regular |
No |
Lively on the field; fun player; wears his emotions on his sleeve, but in a positive manner.
|
Signed as an international free agent out of Colombia in 2012. Polo displayed flashes of his tools throughout both series watched, but the overall profile likely leans towards a second-division player because he lacks a standout tool. Polo is a high-risk player because this is his first run in full-season ball and he lacks projection in his tools and frame. This leads questions for me towards the ultimate ceiling, and I think he realistically settles into a fourth outfield or bench role.
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Stryker Trahan
![](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/images/headshot_100265.jpg) |
Born: 04/25/1994 (Age: 21) |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 0" |
Weight: 232 |
Primary Position: C |
Secondary Position: RF |
Compact, thick frame; broad shoulders; power bottom; thick thighs; physically maxed. |
Mauricio Rubio Jr. |
05/18/2015 |
|
Kane County Cougars (Low-A, Diamondbacks) |
2018 |
High |
40 |
30 - Organizational Player |
No |
Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round, 26th overall, by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012.
He has power, a great arm, and he’s surprisingly athletic, which allows him to play the outfield when he’s not catching. His in-game skills leave a lot to be desired however. Trahan knows what he can hit so his approach is geared towards getting into a count where he can unload on 2-0 fastballs. He doesn’t fare well when he has to come back in an at-bat and his plate coverage is poor. Trahan’s athleticism doesn’t translate behind the plate; his blocking ability is below average and he doesn’t move well side to side.
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3 comments have been left for this article.
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I feel like I can subtract one from my usual number of cups of coffee each morning one of these articles pops up on my screen. Probably my favorite series on BP, great stuff as always.